Union city, n.J, man sentenced to five years in prison
for role in heroin mill conspiracy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 11, 2012

NEWARK, N.J. – A Union City, N.J., man convicted for his role in a conspiracy to process, package, and distribute heroin was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

The jury returned a guilty verdict on Sept. 9, 2011, against Jose Manuel Almonte, 38, following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini. Almonte was convicted of both counts of an Indictment charging him with conspiring to manufacture and distribute heroin and possession with intent to manufacture and distribute heroin. Judge Martini also imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

Almonte conspired with others, including Ramon Delorbe, 40, of New York City, and Joselin Reynoso, 47, of Union City, to operate a heroin processing mill in Union City between April and October 2009. Almonte and his co-conspirators distributed more than one kilogram of heroin. When agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Almonte and searched the mill, they seized approximately 220 grams of heroin, extensive drug processing and packaging paraphernalia and approximately $8,800 in currency.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Martini sentenced Almonte to three years of supervised release.

Both Delorbe and Reynoso have pleaded guilty to heroin charges. Delorbe is awaiting sentencing before Judge Martini. Reynoso has been sentenced and deported.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents and task force officers of the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell in Newark, for the investigation leading to today’s sentence.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randall Cook and Vikas Khanna of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.